Thursday, June 28, 2007

Many, many Saturdays were spent on big yellow school buses, travelling all over the state to various competitions with the band and colorguard. Good times!

Ahh, Junior Prom. What fun we all had!

Meg S. and I gave Ed, our marching instructor, such a hard time for four years. I can't be the only one who secretly had an enormous crush on the man (my God, he's way over 6'! I loooove a tall man...)

I don't know what the colorguard gals were doing to their instructor, but this is a cute pic.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Last night I got the idea to go to Santa Rosa. I decided to get a couple of things done this morning and then go.

So this afternoon I drove the 80-something miles to Santa Rosa to pay homage to Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, and over 50 years of humor and pathos.

I started at the Charles Schulz Museum, a wonderful tribute to the cartoonist opened by his family in 2002. I got to go to the grand opening that summer, but I hadn't been back since.

As I got out of my car, I got a huge grin on my face at seeing the Peanuts figures oustide, and hearing the music from various plays, TV specials, etc. The grin did not leave my face all afternoon. What a happy place!

As you walk to the museum, there are some Charlie Brown and Snoopy characters from various "Peanuts on Parade" projects of summers past:

There are only a few things you can take pictures of inside the museum, including the huge tile mosaic. It is made up of over 3,500 comic strip tiles:

Life-size mural

There is a small patio area outside, and it includes a kite-eating tree and an enormous baseball cap.

After wandering the museum, I went outside and walked to the middle of the Snoopy Labrynth:

After this, I crossed the street to the ice arena to take a few pictures and then have a meal at the Warm Puppy Cafe. I ordered a Beagle Burger and a soda, and sat down to enjoy.

Outside the cafe:

Inside the cafe:

The table where Schulz ate breakfast and lunch each day:

After lunch, I took some pictures of the outside of the arena, and more of the Snoopy statues:

Too cute!

After this, I walked to the Mecca for Snoopy fans, the Snoopy Gallery and Gift Shop:

I managed to keep my purchase (a T-shirt, a pen, some stickers and a plush holiday Snoopy) to under $50, no small feat for me. Then I whipped out my camera again, and took some pictures of the gallery and gift shop:

Mona Lucy:

After this I started back towards my car, stopping to take a self-portrait with Snoopy (he didn't share his cookies):

Then I checked out this adorable information booth:

...and snapped a picture of a baseball field that was put in by Schulz and his wife for the neighborhood kids (from 2-92) to enjoy:

After this, I drove to downtown Santa Rosa and Railroad Square, where there are more Peanuts sculptures to enjoy:

A lovely tribute to a hometown hero:

What a lovely afternoon! I detoured through Wine Country on my way home, finding myself in Napa. I called Summer, but she was unfortunately working and unable to meet me for a bite to eat. So I continued south towards the east bay, and arrived home at about 8:00. I'm still smiling.